Sickle-bar.



No. 642,994. Patented Feb. 6, |900.

T. J. MAYBEBBY, A

SICKLE BAR.

(Application filed June 22, 1899.)

(Nn Model.)

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THOMAS JORDEN MAYBERRY,

Trice.

OF MOUNT GROVE, MISSOURI.

SlCKLE-BAR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 642,994, dated February 6, 1900.

Application filed J une 22, 1899.

To @ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS J ORDEN MAY- BERRY, residing at Mount Grove, in the county of Vright and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sickle-Bars, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in cutter-bars for reapers and mowers; and it primarily seeks to provide a novel construction of cutter-bar particularly relating to means for locking the knives to t-he bar in such a manner that they can be expeditiously removed in seriesior individually removed and replaced without disconnecting the remaining knives from the cutter-bar.

This invention consists in certain details of construction and novel arrangement of parts, all of which will be hereinafter first described, and then pointed out in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a perspective view of a cutterbar embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the same on the line l l of Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a plan View of a sickle-bar section, showing the knives held tightly clamped from lateral movement. Fig. 4 is a detail section illustrating the manner ot' :removing the key-block at one end to permit a free lateral movement of all of the knives in the cutter-bar slot. Fig. 5 is a horizontal section taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a view of one of the knives detached, and Fig. 7 is a detail View of the key-block.

The cutter-bar 1 in my construction has a longitudinal slot 2 extending from end to end and passing through from the top to the bottom of the bar. One end (the inner) of the bar lhas a transverse head portion 3, adapted to be connected with the operating-pitman, while its opposite end has a transverse member 5, the purpose of which will presently appear.

The knives 6 are of the conventional form in plan view; but each knife has a pendent rib 6a extending the full transverse width of the knife. This rib is of a size to snugly fit the slot 2 in the cutter-bar, and at one end each rib has a groove 6b and at the opposite end a tongue 6c, said tongue and groove members being provided to admit the entire se- Serial No. 721,481. (No model.)

ries of knives being firmly locked edge to edge, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. The knife adjacent the pitman-head has its tongue held to engage a socket 3a 0n the head portion 3, and the knife at the outer end of the bar has its groove facing the cross member 5.

In practice the length of the cutter-bar slot is somewhat longer that the combined length of the knives held therein,wherebyto permit the entire series of knives beingmoved laterally sufficient to allow the said entire series of knives being removed fromthe cutter at once or each knife removed or replacedindependently of the others.

To provide for conveniently and eifectively holding the several knives to their locked position and also for expeditiously adjusting the parts to permit their ready detachment from the bar 1, I employ a key-block 8, adapted to tit the space between the edge of the outermost knife and the cross member 5, it having a tongue 8n to engage the groove of the said outermost knife. The space between the outermost knife and the member 5 and the relative size of the block 8 and its tongue 8fL are such that while the block 8 is held for a slight lateral adjustment within the space X its lateral movement is not sufficient to permit the said block being removed from the space X and engagement with the outermost one of the knives withoutlifting the knife atan angle, as indicated in Fig. 4, such arrangement of parts being provided to prevent the block 8 becoming accidentally displaced or The block 8 is held to its locked position by a set-screw 9,that engages a threaded opening 5fL in the member 5. To remove any or all of the knives, the set-screw 9 is turned back sufficient to permit the outermost knife being tilted upward together with the key-block, as indicated in Fig. 4. This movement permits the ready removal of the key-block, it being obvious that after the said block is removed the outermost knife can be dropped back in position and the entire series of knives moved laterally and al1 of them removed together from the slot 2, it being understood that the knife adjacent the pitman end of the cutter will be sufliciently moved laterally for its tongue to disengage from the socket 3a, it being also manifest that inasmuch as the knives have a sufficient lateral play in the slot when the key 8 is removed to allow anjT one of the said knives being separated sufficient from its mates to permit it being freely removed and replaced. To again lock the knives in their position, the outermost one of the knives is tilted up sufficient to admit the tongue of the key being entered therein, after which the said end knife is again forced down, together with the key, in the slot and the said key moved up to a locking position by a proper adjustment of the set-screw 9.

I am aware that sickle-bars having knives held thereon capable of being removed independent of the others are not new, andl make no claim to su'ch construction; but

What I do claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. A cutter-bar having an uninterrupted slot extending its length and having a socket at one end ofthe slot; a series of knives having pendent portions adapted to lit the slot and provided with interlocking members; the end knife at one side having a tongue to engage the socket in the adjacent end of the cutterbar, the end knife at the other side having a socket; the combined transverse width of the entire series of knives being less than the length of the cutter-bar slot, the entire series of knives having a lateral movement in the cutter-bar slot; a key-block for filling the space intervening the end of the cutter-bar and the knives, and means for forcing the key-block tightly against the knives, as set forth.

2. A cutter-bar having an uninterrupted slot, the end wall at one side having a socket, an adj ustablc screw passing through the end wall of the other side; a series of knives having pendent portions adapted to snugly fit the slot, the combined width of the series of knives being less than that of the length of the slot, whereby said series are adapted for lateral movement in the slot, the end knife at one side having a tongue to engage the slot `of the adjacent end of the cutterbar, the end knife at the other side having an end groove, and a key-block adapted to fit in the space between the knives and the adjustable screwlholding end of the cutter-bar, said key-block 

